Cable & Wireless’ Business Unit in Anguilla has donated EC$5,000 and 500 exercise books to the Education Department for the schools on the island. The donation was made as part of the company’s philanthropic objectives under its new Foundation recently announced in St. Lucia.

In making the presentation on Monday, September 13, the company’s Chief Executive in Anguilla, Sutcliffe Hodge, said the decision had been taken to set up the Foundation whereby a pool of financial resources could be channelled to areas of greatest need in the various islands. He stated that among those areas were education, sports and health as well as disaster assistance.

“We recognise that we have a responsibility to this region to more than just provide assistance in areas of health, culture and education or respond to any need that would benefit the majority of the people in Anguilla [and elsewhere],” he went on. “Cable and Wireless has decided to establish a Foundation in the region so that we can more effectively channel limited funds in areas of greatest impact.

“We see a need to work closely with the Ministry of Education and the Government of Anguilla in general to assist in areas where there is need. We believe that there are some children in our community who are unfortunate and, rather than allowing them to be sentenced to a perpetual life of poverty and under-achievement…, we would like to see them realise their dreams and full potential.”

Mr. Hodge said that as an Anguillian he was pleased to be in a position to make the presentation on behalf of Cable and Wireless, a global company, to serve the needs of the less fortunate in the community.

As regards disaster assistance, he took the opportunity to say that Cable and Wireless in Anguilla was one of the first businesses to respond to the needs of Grenada ravaged by Hurricane Ivan. He noted that a team, including Larry Stott, was flown to that island to take food to colleagues and radio equipment to restore the mobile network there. He recalled that when Hurricane Luis struck Anguilla, in 1995, Cable and Wireless had contributed some EC$800,000 to assist the island in its recovery.

Chief Education Officer, Verna Fahie, said Cable and Wireless, a strategic partner in education, had come forward at a timely moment. According to her the exercise books, with colourful and informative covers, will be given to children at primary level for two reasons: the lesson in politeness and telephone etiquette on the front cover; and the multiplication tables at the back which will be helpful to the children in their numeracy lessons.

The money (EC$5,000.00will go towards pastoral care and development at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. She said that the programme would include how children should learn to prepare for disasters; and behaviour management, an area where much help was required.

“So far we have been writing up the pastoral curriculum and setting up a learning centre at the school at which we are going to introduce programmes such as compact and success maker so that we will have no children out of class at any point in time,” Mrs. Fahie continued. “We are beginning also a programme called ‘Wise’ which is a workshop initiative for boys who need the hands-on experience for workshop skills.” She added that the money would also be used to purchase the text books needed for the programme.

Education Officer, Ronda Connor, said the pastoral curriculum was implemented in the school many years ago but had now been reviewed and upgraded and the text books would support the curriculum tremendously. She stated that the workshop for the boys would be housed in a section of the old Cottage Hospital which was cleaned several days ago by Education Department personnel. One teacher assisted by a community worker will run the workshop where various types of craftwork will be done.

Special Assistant in the Ministry of Social Development, Rhona Richardson, said the Minister, Eric Reid, and the Department of Education were grateful to Cable and Wireless for its assistance.

On a personal level, Mrs. Richardson, who is the chairperson of the Anguilla Community Foundation, commended Cable and Wireless on its establishment of a regional Foundation to assist with the needs of the people of the islands.

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